The News Lens
Date: 2016 / 05 / 28
By: Edward White
President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) first week in office saw a handful of quick, popular decisions by the new DPP-led government. Taiwan’s participation in international affairs continues, as did the anti-Tsai rhetoric from across the Taiwan Strait.
For the kids
One of the new administration’s first actions was to withdraw the former
Premier Lin Chuan, right, speaks to the press Saturday, May 28, about Taiwan’s recent participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA). Lin lauded Health Minister Lin Tzou-yien for leading the Taiwan delegation to what he called a successful mission to the WHA. (CNA)
government’s criminal charges against 126 Sunflower Movement protesters. Activist leaders welcomed the decision and are now pushing for an investigation of police and officials involved in the alleged use of excessive force during the 2014 protests.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) decided schools in Taiwan are no longer allowed to punish students who choose not to wear uniforms. The move, which Tsai had backed during the election campaign, was seen as a victory for many high school protests groups around the island.
Greening Taiwan
The new director of the Environment Protection Administration (EPA) moved to ban mining in Taiwan’s national parks. The decision means that Asia Cement will have to stop mining in Taroko Gorge National Park when its current permit expires next year. While the decision has pleased environmental groups, it has drawn criticism from the company, which argues that its operation was in place prior to the park’s creation in 1986 – the mine is understood to be the only mining operation in a national park.
New Economics Minister Lee Chih-kung (李世光) reaffirmed the government’s ambitious plans to make Taiwan nuclear free by 2025, CNA reports. [FULL STORY]
